Middle-schoolers who are advanced earn credits for high-school courses

A proliferation of virtual high-school courses and a focus on giving students who are accelerated a chance to move ahead and take more challenging classes have led to Pasco County, Fla., school district's middle-school students earning 5,849 high-school credits by 2013. Middle schools also are offering more high-school courses, such as Spanish I and algebra I, on campuses. "When we can provide a wider array of options, kids will push themselves more," principal Christine Wolff said.